Is Thailand Safe For Children?

[orish]

I have a boy and girl, 10 + 13, both foreigners. I used to think that Bangkok was a relatively safe city for children. My kids go to the weekend market on their own, or they visit MBK, Discovery Centre and other shopping centres. Most of the time, they stick to the skytrain, sometimes they take a bus - I don't let them take taxis alone.

However, some of my friends are telling me that Thailand is an exceptionally dangerous place for children alone. One European baby was stolen at Victory Monument out of his pram and found two years later, with its arm amputated, used by a gang for begging in the streets.

I'm told that other children are abducted, smuggled to Burma, forced into sexual slavery, used and abused then killed and quietly buried.

These stories never hit the English papers, and it seems that the government and international organizations are powerless to do anything about it.

Seems to me a bit far-fetched. We have similar bogey-man stories of paeodophiles living in England and most middle and upper class parents there constantly ferry their kids to and fro in their cars for fear of letting them out of their site.

The result in the UK, according to a police inspector, is that the incidence of traffic-related accidents and deaths amongst children has risen by 500% since the 70's; while sexual abuse by strangers has decreased very slightly.

In the USA, figures show that teenagers have much less ability to assess risk than teenagers 30 years ago.

Am I getting the same mythological hogwash in Thailand, or are children under real threat here after all?

Long-standing residents tell me that there are plenty of stories about abductions and killings in the Thai papers, but that they simply do not appear in the English press.

Does anyone know what the true state of affairs is, and could you advise me and other families about how much freedom one can afford one's children, and at what age?

Concerned parent.

[BambinA]

I think BKK is safty enough but it depends on where kids go, anyhow , for TH opinion (IMO) i think boy and girl, 10 + 13, both foreigners are too young to go around alone, especially they cant speak and understand TH lang. well

if i were you, i might allow they go somewhere as MBK ,JJ market..but i will wait them somewhere nearby

example, if they want to go to MBK , i might wait them at Siam Discovey center ,..and tell them for call me sometime, and come to see me at the exactly time i limit

Bambi

ps, for me ,the age which i give them more freedom..i think 15+ yo

Edited August 7, 2005 by BambinA

[baht&sold]

One European baby was stolen at Victory Monument out of his pram and found two years later, with its arm amputated, used by a gang for begging in the streets.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

???

Your kids will be fine in Bkk, just use common sense, like anywhere.

[terdsak_12]

I wouldn't let my kids roam free at 10-13 years old in Bangkok, that's just me though, your decision at the end of the day.

This arms amputated story sound a bit of an urban myth to me though!!!

[thaibebop]

I wouldn't let my kids roam free at 10-13 years old in Bangkok, that's just me though, your decision at the end of the day.

This arms amputated story sound a bit of an urban myth to me though!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My wife (thai) believes it, says she has seen it. She told me that when we go to Bangkok, that are children are not to leave our sight and be within 5 feet of us.

[Nickerelastic]

The OP must be a troll

[Kringle]

Let's just hope that he is a troll. It's either that or a total idiot. It would be irresponsible to let your children run free in ANY large city, not just Bangkok. Need a GAG order.

[capco1]

I dunno....my Thai wife says she also beleives the above story...guess child snatching is very common in areas of Thailand with many being forced into hard labor and/or child prostitution....My wife has the same comment....won't let our kids out of sights distance!

Better safe than sorry!

[markuk]

Not at that age, way too young to be out on their own in Bangkok.

Not worth taking the risk is it - u would never forgive yourself if something happened.

[cmsally]

10 & 13 out alone in Bangkok seems far to young. Too young to be alone in any city.

[pedro01]

I actually know a guy here - Gary his name is. He's originally from South Africa but it seems his kids are English. He was in UK for a long time before coming out here.

He's got 2 kids around this age & he is under the impression that he knows best about stuff like education. He's trying to start a venture out here - training programs for corporations to get your staff to 'think outside the box'.

This guy is over here - he's got kids around this age plus a 3 year old. He hasn't got them in school here 'cause he reckons he can teach them all they need to know. His kids are bored each day & I fear they are going to come a cropper.

His kids are completely out of control - his son is always off with young Thai kids - off on the back of their motorbikes all over town - he has NO clue what they are up to. He's just a young boy.

There's a thai family next to their condo (living in a shack) - apparently the boy has been round there begging for money to buy food - he probably has cash but is just trying it on.

Now - this Gary is obviously 100% clueless when it comes to rearing kids - they don't know the meaning of the word discipline. If you saw them out - you would instantly recognise their lack of discipline.

What worries me is that if they carry on the way they are - all over Bangkok - somethings going to happen.

It seems unfair to the kids that this guy isn't educating them or teaching them the respect & discipline required to live in harmony with their fellow man.

What to do, eh ?

[bkkexplorer]

Very hard to tell if the kids are too young or not to go out on their own. It's really how their parents bring them up. Yes, you want them to be safe, and it's pretty safe in busy areas. They must know what to do in case of emergency. These days with cel phones it's even easier to track. No right or wrong, parents make the best judgements, they know their kids best.

As for the stories, I would believe them. It mostly happens to infants though. Wasn't there a lady who walked into a hospital and took a baby out of a hospital a couple of weeks ago? Speculation was that the baby would have met the same fate.

I think the public has a moral/social responsibilty here to act when they see injustice or something not right.

[Crossy]

Hmmm, 10 and 13 out TOGETHER in the busier parts of town Skytrain MBK etc etc

IMHO, absolutely NO PROBLEM, I base this on how my monsters were at that age, reasonably savvy, avoid dicey looking characters, scream very loudly if approached (that's a good one to teach in Thai).

But, as others have said, kids mature at very different rates, make your own informed decisions.

Now, letting them out in London, NO WAY...

[thaibebop]

If I won't let my kids out of my sight here in American, it ain't going to happen anywhere. I protect them like a wolf pack leader. The only way I can ensure that they will live long enough to become adults.

[Nam Kao]

If someone took my kids they'd be self-admitted to the Loony bin after a few days

[britmaveric]

10+13? No way - wouldnt let them roam around any major city whether its BKK, London, Paris ect.

[Davey]

I have a boy and girl, 10 + 13, both foreigners. I used to think that Bangkok was a relatively safe city for children. My kids go to the weekend market on their own, or they visit MBK, Discovery Centre and other shopping centres. Most of the time, they stick to the skytrain, sometimes they take a bus - I don't let them take taxis alone.

However, some of my friends are telling me that Thailand is an exceptionally dangerous place for children alone. One European baby was stolen at Victory Monument out of his pram and found two years later, with its arm amputated, used by a gang for begging in the streets.

I'm told that other children are abducted, smuggled to Burma, forced into sexual slavery, used and abused then killed and quietly buried.

These stories never hit the English papers, and it seems that the government and international organizations are powerless to do anything about it.

Seems to me a bit far-fetched. We have similar bogey-man stories of paeodophiles living in England and most middle and upper class parents there constantly ferry their kids to and fro in their cars for fear of letting them out of their site.

The result in the UK, according to a police inspector, is that the incidence of traffic-related accidents and deaths amongst children has risen by 500% since the 70's; while sexual abuse by strangers has decreased very slightly.

In the USA, figures show that teenagers have much less ability to assess risk than teenagers 30 years ago.

Am I getting the same mythological hogwash in Thailand, or are children under real threat here after all?

Long-standing residents tell me that there are plenty of stories about abductions and killings in the Thai papers, but that they simply do not appear in the English press.

Does anyone know what the true state of affairs is, and could you advise me and other families about how much freedom one can afford one's children, and at what age?

Concerned parent.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I for sure would not be letting my children out into a big city such as Bangkok, or anywhere for that matter, especially not as young as 10 and 13. However, your kids, your choice.